A New Forest war hero has won his fight to save an 18th century farmhouse in Lymington.

Government planners have rejected proposals to replace Lisle Court Farmhouse, near Lymington, with a modern home that Lieutenant Commander David Balme described as "monstrous".

Lt-Cdr Balme, 84, went into battle again when he heard about plans to demolish the farmhouse, just 75 yards from his home.

In a presentation to district councillors last year he said: "What's being proposed is a monstrous rectangular glass-fronted white block of a house."

Councillors subsequently rejected the application, which had attracted more than 40 letters of objection.

Ringwood Councillor Ann Drake said: "The design of the new house is more suited to Milton Keynes than the New Forest Heritage Area."

The applicants, Chris Hatton and his wife Melanie, lodged an appeal, but planning inspector Christian Leigh has upheld the council's decision.

Mr Leigh's report says: "The proposed dwelling is a well-executed piece of modern architecture, but I'm not persuaded that it's an appropriate design given the site's location.

"The house would be a bold architectural statement and appear very different to this established and distinctive rural character.

"Notwithstanding its intrinsic architectural quality, it is simply the wrong building for the site."

Lt-Cmdr Balme has lived next-door to Lisle Court Farmhouse for 30 years and welcomed the retention of the picture-postcard property.

He said: "It's one of the best houses in the Forest. Everyone is very pleased it won't be replaced by an awful-looking building."

The retired sailor made history in 1941 when he boarded an enemy submarine and seized one of the Enigma machines used by the Nazis.

His success enabled the Allies to intercept and decode all the top-secret messages between Germany and its U-boats in the North Atlantic.

Winston Churchill later said the capture of the Enigma device helped shorten the war.